Used car guide

2002 Renault Clio: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2002 Renault Clios, from 2,541 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,541MOT tests in 2025
55%pass first time (all 2002 cars: 60%)
3,600typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2002 Renault Clios than on all cars registered in 2002.

  • Headlights1.9× usual
    Renault Clio
    20% All 2002 cars
    10.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.2%, against 4% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes4.6× usual
    Renault Clio
    10.6% All 2002 cars
    2.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.5% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Steering rack4.1× usual
    Renault Clio
    7.7% All 2002 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 1.1% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints1.7× usual
    Renault Clio
    11.9% All 2002 cars
    6.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 3% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Airbag warning light3.6× usual
    Renault Clio
    5.1% All 2002 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 1.2% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Rust around suspension or steering mountings: 1% here, against 7% of all 2002 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.9% here, against 8.3% of all 2002 cars.

By area

The share of 2002 Renault Clio MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    48% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    45% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    33% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    31% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    24% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    15% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Renault Clio?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023547Tyres 21%
20227,902Tyres 28%
20219,212Tyres 29%
202010,817Tyres 32%
201917,257Tyres 40%
201819,747Tyres 38%
201719,259Tyres 37%
201622,290Tyres 37%
201523,953Brakes 42%
201425,890Brakes 45%
201319,702Brakes 43%
201213,942Suspension 50%
201116,314Suspension 51%
201021,343Suspension 51%
200914,741Suspension 51%
200813,524Suspension 53%
200716,133Suspension 53%
200611,743Suspension 51%
20057,277Suspension 51%
20045,932Suspension 51%
20033,850Suspension 51%
20011,506Suspension 46%
2000764Suspension 46%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2002 Renault Clios registered in 2002. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score